Professor Carl Thayer: Vietnam maintains political stability and economic success in 2024

“Vietnam has maintained political stability and economic success in 2024” – that is the comment of Professor Carl Thayer, from the Australian Defense Force Academy, University of New South Wales, when interviewed by a VNA reporter in Sydney about Vietnam's outstanding achievements in the past year.

Professor Carl Thayer was interviewed by a VNA reporter in Australia. Photo: Le Dat/VNA

According to Professor Thayer, although there have been changes in the leadership in 2024, Vietnam has maintained political stability and completed its leadership in accordance with political processes and the Constitution. Therefore, Vietnam has strengthened the trust of its people and international investors. It can be said that Vietnam is moving forward smoothly, while planning for the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. In addition, Vietnam continues to fight corruption, from the central to local levels, continuing the legacy of the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to build the Party and look to the future. However, what really impressed Professor Thayer was the success of the Vietnamese economy, with a growth rate forecast to reach 6.1-7% in 2024. Industrial output, trade and exports all increased significantly. In mid-2024, Vietnam also increased the minimum wage for workers. In particular, Vietnam has controlled inflation and maintained macroeconomic stability. Professor Thayer recalled that at the recent National Assembly session, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh talked about 15 socio-economic targets in Vietnam, of which 14 targets have been achieved. Professor Thayer said that this is a good achievement. Looking forward to 2025, Professor Thayer said that although Vietnam will focus on the elections, it still needs to prioritize maintaining the breakthroughs achieved in 2024, while improving and reforming institutions to facilitate businesses. According to Professor Thayer, 2025 will be the year Vietnam places a strong focus on the economy. In terms of foreign affairs, in 2024, Vietnam upgraded its relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Australia (March 2024), France (October 2024), and Malaysia (November 2024). Professor Carl Thayer said that this is a breakthrough in Vietnam's diplomacy, all of which are part of the policy of multilateralization and diversification of foreign relations, when Vietnam has developed dozens of comprehensive strategic partnerships and partnerships with other countries. These diplomatic successes have greatly enhanced Vietnam's position in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in particular and in the world in general. Regarding the Vietnam-Australia relationship, Professor Thayer said that this is a profound relationship. In 2024, the two sides held ministerial meetings on trade, security, energy and minerals. The two sides also held the 19th human rights dialogue, discussing issues ranging from public health, resilience and climate change mitigation, people-to-people exchanges, etc. It can be seen that the list of cooperation between the two countries is still very long. In addition, the two countries have proposed a multi-year action plan, demonstrating the sustainability of the relationship.

Professor Thayer said that Australia can help Vietnam modernize its military in certain aspects and vice versa, Australia can learn from Vietnam. In the future, Australia can carry out search and rescue missions and humanitarian missions, with the cooperation of Vietnam. That would be a major breakthrough. Professor Thayer assessed that peacekeeping activities will be an important content as part of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; at the same time, he predicted that in the coming time, Australia may not only support Vietnam in moving forces to participate in peacekeeping, but also support various capacities for Vietnam's peacekeeping forces abroad. That is a bright spot in the bilateral relationship. According to Professor Thayer, in 2025, there will be an election in Australia, but that will not change the bilateral relationship because both parties in this Oceanian country support the relationship with Vietnam. Regarding human rights, Professor Thayer said that the United Nations Human Rights Council has 47 members divided into five geographical groups. The two largest groups are Africa and Asia-Pacific, both with 13 members. Vietnam is the representative of Asia-Pacific elected at the United Nations General Assembly. This is the second time Vietnam has been elected to this position. Countries can only have a maximum of two consecutive terms. Similarly, Vietnam was also elected by the General Assembly as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. This shows that the international community strongly supports Vietnam. Professor Thayer commented that the poverty rate in Vietnam has decreased sharply. The LGBTQ community is well protected in Vietnam. Vietnam also ensures gender equality, sustainable development goals, public health, education, treatment of ethnic minorities... those are human rights. Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/giao-su-carl-thayer-viet-nam-duy-tri-duoc-on-dinh-chinh-tri-va-thanh-cong-kinh-te-trong-nam-2024-20241207101138140.htm